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Electronic Arts (EA) Madden is supporting STEAM education initiatives. The digital football experience continues to position itself to be the best in class. For the last three decades, Madden NFL alone has drawn millions of players and has sold over 130 million copies, Director Strategic Programs & Community Relations at EA, Jocel Boney, said at the AFROTECH™ U Summit held during the AFROTECH™ Conference 2025 in Houston. “With that kind of influence, we know we have a responsibility to celebrate culture in authentic ways and to create meaningful impact in the communities where we live, work, and play,” she explained on the stage. Part of that impact includes a five-year, $5 million investment in STEAM education initiatives, including grants to four leading nonprofits and a scholarship program with UNCF through the John Madden Legacy Commitment to Education. The scholarship honors the legacy of Coach John Madden, who was a key player in maintaining the authenticity of the sport in...
Robert Golden’s vision has always been to serve others. This vision dawned on Golden during his athletic career at the University of Arizona and in the NFL, he shared in an interview with AFROTECH™. His mission has been shaped by his upbringing in Fresno, CA, an area he described as “one of the most impoverished” and “under-resourced” in the state. The chances of overcoming significant obstacles to achieve wealth can seem slim, and even more so for making it to the NFL, a feat accomplished by only 0.016% of college players, according to AS. That he was able to reach such heights further inspired him to help others do the same. Golden Charter Academy Golden started his NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers and spent six seasons on its roster before signing a free agent deal with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2018, according to the Chiefs’ official website. However, soon after he asked to be released from his contract and retired from the NFL. While still in the league, he realized he...
Adult learners in Roanoke, VA, are getting a second chance. According to a news release shared with AFROTECH™, history was made on Aug. 25 with the opening of The Excel Center, the first adult high school in the state. The Excel Center, operated by the Goodwill Industries of the Valleys , is a tuition-free, accredited high school that allows adults to earn a high school diploma, not a GED, as its website states. The Roanoke location aims to address poverty in the area. The center will offer Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses that prepare students with hands-on training and skills applicable to industry-wide jobs, according to its website. “A high school diploma is more than a piece of paper; it opens doors to jobs, future education, and life opportunities,” said Kelley Weems, senior director of community impact at Goodwill Industries of the Valleys, in a news release. Weems added that The Excel Center will support its students by offering childcare, transportation, life...
Ten-year-old Sean Atitsogbe has always had a love for learning. In an interview with CNN, Atitsogbe, who adopted the nickname “Sean the Science Kid,” joked that he started learning in his mother’s womb. For him, learning is a form of entertainment, similar to how most kids view video games. “I have a gravitational attraction towards learning,” the Lilburn, GA native told CNN. In the CNN interview, Atitsogbe revealed that at his parents recognized he was gifted when he was 9 months old after he read a sign for the apparel store, Carter’s, during a family outing. By age 3, h is mother enrolled him in High Achievers Education Center Inc. (HAEC), where he quickly advanced to second grade. According to the school’s website, its curriculum — which encourages critical thinking, collaboration and real-world application — includes English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. “After being turned away by three schools, we finally found Dr. Nadra Powell at HAEC, who...
Five days of fun, networking, mentorship , and the chance to enjoy everything the most magical place on Earth has to offer — that’s what Disney’s Dreamers Academy is all about. From Wednesday, March 26, to Sunday, March 30, 2025, students from around the world traveled to the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, FL, to be inspired, motivated, and energized by educators, business executives, community leaders, and celebrities, including “DREAMbassador” Tyler James Williams (“Abbott Elementary”) and former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe . For the 100 participants — ages 13 and 19 — such as Alexis Limary, Jayden Kelly, Christian Rutter, Iraj Shroff, Ava Powers, and Tristan Williams, getting accepted into the 18th annual Dreamers Academy was a dream come true, preparing them for future careers in science, technology, engineering, and math ( STEM ). “The opportunity to even be able to come to Disney World, expenses paid, that’s just someone’s dream. Also, to be able to become a part of...
Lewis Hamilton has made it his mission to diversify his sport. Hamilton, raised in North London, England, began racing at 8 years old and experienced a lack of representation in the sport firsthand. However, winning created an opportunity for him to feel accepted, he admits in conversation with GQ. “Being the only Black kid on the circuit, struggling at school, really always my big drive was acceptance — ‘If I win the race, I will receive that acceptance in this world,'” he expressed. View this post on Instagram A post shared by AFROTECH (@afro.tech) Hamilton began to allocate a lot of his time towards go-karting at a young age with the support of his father, Anthony, who was his mentor and manager, Formula 1 reports. Anthony simultaneously had three jobs at a time to support his son’s driving career. The sacrifice would pay off even within Hamilton’s childhood years. “We won the first six races…Then we just kept going. We kept winning. We kept winning championships,” Hamilton...
The 18th annual Disney Dreamer’s Academy is underway. It will bring together a diverse group of high school students from across the country for a transformational mentoring program at Walt Disney World Resort. On Thursday, March 27, 2025, “Abbott Elementary” star Tyler James Williams — joining the fun as this year’s “DREAMbassador” — helped welcome 100 high school students who are shaping the future in fields like science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to Orlando, FL. The day featured a parade at Magic Kingdom, where Williams served as the honorary grand marshal. After the parade, Williams shared that he was particularly excited to attend storytelling sessions, noting that he’s a storyteller “first and foremost.” When asked by AFROTECH™ about the impact of AI-generated content and streaming platforms on the future of storytelling, Williams said he believes technology will always play a significant role. “I think technology will always play a role,” Williams told...
By age 6, children already begin to associate boys with greater aptitude in STEM fields, including computer science and engineering, compared to girls. Such beliefs among girls tend to become deeply ingrained over time. The 74 reported these reports stem from an analysis conducted by the American Institutes for Research, released Monday. This comprehensive review examined nearly 100 studies across 33 countries. David Miller, the lead author and a senior researcher who launched the project five years ago, emphasized that without efforts to address such perceptions, girls may turn away from “fast-growing tech fields like artificial intelligence .” In elementary school, girls comprise about half of the students enrolled in foundational computer science courses. However, the participation drops to 44% in middle school and decreases to 33% in high school, according to The 74. Miller noted that these findings have significant implications for girls’ decisions regarding high school course...
There are so many paths to success that people looking to begin or further develop careers have many options. The pathways to advancement are endless, from becoming an entrepreneur to becoming a social media influencer. However, many people are still interested in pursuing the more traditional route of earning a college degree and attaining a corporate job, or leveraging that education to start their own business. If attending college is on your radar, maximizing your earning potential starts before the first job interview. Evidence suggests that the launch of a fruitful career begins with choosing a major that can potentially lead to a higher-than-average salary. According to the 2024 National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) survey, the highest salaries are attributed to those who major in STEM disciplines. These fields, particularly engineering and computer science, dominate the list of highest-paying majors. Their high salaries are fueled by a strong demand for...
Sisters Phylicia Rashad and Debbie Allen are considered national treasures to the culture, so it’s only right that they come from royalty! The Houston, TX, natives are best known for their contributions to the world of entertainment. Rashad gained notoriety in her role as Clair Huxtable on “The Cosby Show” and went on to serve as a guest lecturer, faculty member, and dean in the arts at Howard University. Her sister, Allen, is known for transforming the choreography world in Hollywood as we know it today as well as having a hand in shows like “Fame,” “A Different World,” and more. Recently, their mother, Vivian Ayers Allen, was acknowledged by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for her contributions to the field of space. During a ceremony held in their hometown of Houston on July 19, the organization honored the women who assisted with the Apollo 11 mission, ultimately leading to Neil A. Armstrong’s legendary landing on the moon in 1969, Blavity reports. The...
This Black doctor just made history at Johns Hopkins University! In June 2024, Nancy Abu-Bonsrah achieved a historic feat, becoming the first Black woman to graduate from Johns Hopkins University’s neurosurgery program. She took to social media to announce the news, however, it was a close friend who noted that Dr. Abu-Bonsrah had quite literally also made history, Because Of Them We Can reports. “Congratulations to my dear friend, and the first Black woman to graduate from the neurosurgery program at Johns Hopkins, Dr. Nancy Abu-Bonsrah!,” wrote the woman called Anna, whose username is @itsafronomics. Congratulations to my dear friend, and the first Black woman to graduate from the neurosurgery program at John’s Hopkins, Dr. Nancy Abu-Bonsrah ( @BonsrahNancy )! #medtwitter pic.twitter.com/gdu6x7pF9i — Anna (@itsafronomics) June 28, 2024 According to Dr. Abu-Bonsrah, becoming a neurosurgery doctor was a 12-year journey. She also noted that it felt “surreal” that she’d completed the...
The Smart Tech Health Hub will be making its way to Miami, FL. According to a news release provided to AFROTECH™, $4 million has been awarded to the S.E.E.K. (Seeking Education Empowers Knowledge) Foundation Inc., a nonprofit launched by Anike Sakariyawo, in order to make that possible. The foundation, which focuses on STEM education, community involvement, and health and wellness for children ages 3 to 18 plans to open the four-story building in Opa-Locka, a suburb of Miami. This will facilitate access for residents, children, and their families to STEAM education, workforce re-entry programs, and broadband service, dismantling existing entry obstacles. The hub will also provided basic essential health services. Its presence is being described as “the first of its kind in the city” as there has not been a technical facility in the area nor a high school. “The partnership with the Miami Foundation’s Digital Equity Collective program has been pivotal in advancing this initiative,”...
This Black-owned family bakery exists to improve its Western New York community. According to WKBW-7 TV, Radah Baked Goods Founders Lavenia and Lee Thomas have been leading the sweet shop for nearly four years and most recently moved to a new location at 247 Amherst Street in Buffalo, NY. Their shop offers brownies and cupcakes for $3.50, cookies for $2.50, and three-layer cakes for $50.
